CHANDIGARH: A 31-year-old Dadu Majra resident died of swine flu at the PGI today. He was admitted to the hospital a week ago. This is the 14th swine flu death reported from the tricity this season so far.

The easing of norms for FDI in construction by the government earlier this week will prove to be a firm step towards realising the goals of setting up 100 smart cities besides putting the realty sector on the path of achieving ‘housing for all’.

As storm over Mufti’s remarks continued with the Opposition stalling the proceedings of Parliament and demanding a clarification from the Prime Minister, Modi told the Rajya Sabha: "If somebody makes such a statement, we can never support it".

In his 70-minute reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Modi said the credit for the successful elections goes to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “They turned up (to vote) in large numbers with overwhelming courage and pride and put their stamp of approval on what India had been saying all along,” said Modi.

He asserted his government "will move ahead with the policy of 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism” and “all resolutions passed here [in Parliament] will be implemented in letter and spirit.”

In 1994, Parliament adopted an unanimous resolution asserting that entire Jammu and Kashmir was integral part of India and Pakistan must vacate the areas it occupied through aggression. He underlined faith in people of Jammu and Kashmir while asserting his government's commitment to unity and integrity.

On questions by some members whether the BJP will pull out of the coalition government over the issue, Modi said the government will run only on the basis of Common Minimum Programme (CMP). "I want to assure this House and 125 crore people of the country that the government formed in Jammu and Kashmir is based on the Common Minimum Programme and the government will run on its basis," he said

Earlier, the Congress-led Opposition's vehement protests in the Lok Sabha led to two adjournments during the Question Hour. Opposition members belonging to the Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Aam Aadmi Party and the Left too joined hands with the Congress demanding a statement from Modi. A section of the ruling coalition members, particularly Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, was seen thumping his desk as the Opposition demanded a resolution condeming Mufti’s remarks.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said it is imperative that the leadership in Pakistan and India should rise to the expectations of their people and the two nations need to start a “new chapter” in ties by working towards resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue.

NEW DELHI: The rift within the Aam Aadmi Party escalated today with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal terming it an "ugly battle" and his camp launching an all-out war accusing senior leaders Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan of wanting to have a "vice-like grip" on the party.

Chandigarh/Delhi: Some members of the Punjab BJP executive went into a huddle today following a resolution passed by the Shiromani Akali Dal in Delhi opposing the Land Acquisition Bill being tabled by the NDA government in Parliament.

NEW YORK: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has acknowledged that the government may be bracing for a “political battle” on the Land Bill in Parliament, but is confident that the insurance law will get “through”.

FARIDABAD: The city made history today with the city hoisting the world's tallest Indian national flag at HUDA Town Park. At 250 feet, the Tricolour fluttered in the cool breeze while national heroes, politicians and Bollywood stars reveled in patriotic fervor.

NEW DELHI: The Opposition today demonstrated its numerical superiority in the Rajya Sabha embarrassing the Narendra Modi government by forcing an amendment to the President’s address even as the Prime Minister defended that the policies pursued by it was meant for the poor and not corporates.

CHANDIGARH: Law enforcers have turned violators. In a bid to appease UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has literally encroached upon public land in the name of landscaping and beautification outside his house in Sector 7 here.

SANGRUR/AMRITSAR: The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), a counter-intelligence wing, today arrested an ex-serviceman, Sukhwinder Singh of Dayalgarh in Sangrur, on the charges of spying for Pakistani agencies.

SHIMLA: Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur today said the government was monitoring the situation on real-time basis due to snowfall in higher reaches and intermittent rain in lower belts of the state.

DEHRADUN: The state government has been forced to withdraw the excise policy (wholesale liquor policy FL-2 for the new financial year) after objections were raised by a section of Cabinet members, who met here yesterday.

WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned US President Barack Obama on Tuesday against accepting a nuclear deal with Iran that would be a "countdown to a potential nuclear nightmare" by a country that "will always be an enemy of America".

NEW DELHI: In order to mop up a larger share of revenue before the end of the current financial year, the Income Tax Department has identified over 44 lakh high-value spenders in the country who have not filed their returns to date.

PERTH: Australia’s World Cup loss to New Zealand was disappointing but no wake-up call, according to captain Michael Clarke, who said his team remains full of confidence despite the frustrating start to their campaign.

Here it is again…the recent Libertine show at New York Fashion Week had models walk the ramp donning sindoor in bright red, and pink! Indian traditional elements have found favour with the western world since long and it looks like their fascination for all-things Indian is only growing with time.

Publisher Ashok Chopra recaps a journey that began in Chandigarh. He writes about the life and times of authors, artists, actors, literary agents and painters — some of whom he published, others he interacted with. He gives us stories of their inner worlds — some known, others largely unknown

YOUR WORLD AND YOU

With the recent case of a prominent ‘elderly’ gentleman in the legal net for allegedly sexually harassing his ‘muse’ as he likes to call her, has brought into focus the issues plaguing women workforce in India.